Page 65 of Day Shift

Sleep took me quickly, weariness pulling me under.

After a good, hard, restful sleep, I woke up and my head was clear, clearer than it had been since the wreck. I was determined to figure out a way to get out from under the marriage contract and protect everyone I cared about. My best bet was to visit my Uncle Luca and ask for help. Nik had given me a lot to think about regarding Viktor’s plot to take out the leaders of the American mafia families. Maybe I could use that piece of information to convince Uncle Luca to help me.

As my uncle, godfather, and the underboss of the Genovese family, Luca had always provided for me like a real father. If anyone could help me, it would be him.

First things first, though. My house was a mess after I’d been gone for so long, and I needed to eat. I placed a big grocery order online, choosing all my favorite foods that I hadn’t had since the wreck. While I waited for the delivery, I tackled the house. I cleaned up, went through the mountain of mail, and tossed out the dead flowers I’d bought just before racing out to find Nik a month ago.

Just as I finished up, the groceries arrived. The place was feeling more like home again. I put everything away, made a quick omelet, and brewed a strong cup of coffee. The simple act of cooking and cleaning had given me a sense of accomplishment. After finishing breakfast, I headed upstairs to shower, letting the hot water wash away the grime and lingering exhaustion.

There was no time to waste. I would make an unannounced visit to Uncle Luca today. He was the only person who might be able to get me out of the marriage contract and protect those in Tacoma I’d grown to care so much about. I selected my clothing carefully. Luca was old-school and demanded respect in all things. I chose a fashionable yet professional blue dress that would bring out the color of my eyes. To complete my professional look, I picked out some high-heeled shoes, styled my hair down in waves because I knew he liked it that way, and put on just a touch of makeup. Then I grabbed my black Armani bag, slid my laptop and phone inside it and, with a quick glance in the mirror, headed downstairs.

I ordered an Uber and directed the driver to an office building in the Wall Street district. As I stepped out of the car, I marveled at the opulence of the building. Luca’s wealth was evident in every detail. The security guard recognized me and thankfully didn’t bother to stop me when I made my way to the elevator. I punched in the code for the top floor, where Luca had his office. The ride was fast, and soon I was stepping into the well-appointed reception area.

I walked past his assistant without stopping, hoping if I appeared confident enough no one would stop me.

A couple of bodyguards were stationed outside his office. Without slowing down, I barreled right past them and into the office without knocking. This wasn’t standard protocol, but I had to show my uncle I meant business. And I didn’t want to get turned away. My heart pounded, all my nerves firing off like a thousand tiny alarms. I just hoped my smile would keep me from getting shot.

Luca looked up, shock flashing across his face. This expression was rapidly replaced by a hint of amusement. I rushed over, kissing him on the cheek and giving him a sweet hug. The bodyguards stormed in behind me, guns drawn.

“Lower them,” Luca ordered, waving them off. “Respect my goddaughter.”

All he had to do was glare at them with his dark eyes to intimidate them. “Impressive security you provide, letting a petite thing like her waltz right in. Go, and shut the door behind you.”

The men, offering apologies, lowered their guns and left. Luca turned his attention back to me, his brows drawing together in annoyance. “What do you want?” he asked bluntly.

“Uncle Luca,” I said firmly yet respectfully, “we need to talk about a security matter.”

He glanced over his shoulder at me. His mouth twitched with mild concern before his features relaxed. “Anastasia,” he said, motioning for me to sit. “What brings you here so wound up and unannounced?”

“I need your help,” I said as I moved to the other side of his desk.

“I’m a busy man. Make it quick.”

Feigning offense, I sat in the chair opposite him and perched on the edge with my back straight as an arrow. “You’re not happy to see me after a month of me being gone?” I asked with a hint of sarcasm.

He raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by my theatrics. Undeterred, I continued. “Most of that time, I was confined to a hospital bed, Uncle Luca. The car wreck shattered me in so many ways. I was lucky to escape with my life.”

Luca’s eyes narrowed a bit, but he said nothing, waiting for me to go on.

“It wasn’t just the wreck,” I said, growing more serious. “I lost my memories. Complete amnesia. Imagine waking up in a hospital bed, surrounded by strangers, with no idea who you are or how you got there. Every part of my body ached. I had cuts and bruises everywhere, and oh, God, how my head constantly throbbed. I had to rely on the kindness of strangers to survive.”

Uncle Luca remained stoic, but I detected a flicker of something—maybe remorse—in his eyes.

“It was hell, Uncle Luca,” I continued, my tone unwavering. “Every day was a struggle—not just to heal physically but to remember who I was. To reconnect with my past, my identity. It was terrifying.”

He leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers under his chin, watching me intently.

“And while I was dealing with all of that,” I said, “you were here, carrying on as if nothing had happened. As if your goddaughter wasn’t lying in a hospital bed, fighting to remember her own name. I had to claw my way back to some semblance of normalcy completely alone, all the while worried that I might never get my memories back.”

Luca finally spoke. “Yes, I learned about the wreck, Anastasia, but had to keep things quiet. Drawing attention to you would have brought the authorities to our doorstep. So you can knock it off with the guilt trip. We wouldn’t want the authorities to figure out you were Viktor Volkov’s daughter, now would we? Besides, Elena saw to all of your responsibilities here in the city, ensuring the reason for your absence remained under wraps and notifying the library you would no longer be able to work for them.”

I nodded, understanding but not willing to forgive him this easily. “I get that. But it doesn’t change what I went through all alone. But I’ll just put that aside. For now, I need your help.”

He chuckled at my bravado, leaning back in his chair. “You were rash, going to Tacoma without a plan.” I wanted to argue, to remind him that I’d tried calling him, but he’d ignored me. Instead, I took a deep breath and crafted my response carefully. “I apologize for my behavior, Uncle Luca. I take full responsibility for what happened. You’re right; I should have come to you first.”

His expression softened, as though he approved of my acceptance of his criticism and appreciated that I wasn’t getting emotional.

“I have something very important to share with you,” I said, leaning in and lowering my voice. “I think your life may be in danger.”

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